CAROL WESTBY, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an internationally-renowned expert on play assessment and development, language-literacy relationships, current play theories, and the development of the four dimensions of play in young children (birth-5 years).

She is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and holds Specialty Recognition in Child Language. She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Iowa’s Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, and the ASHA Award for Contributions to Multicultural Affairs.

Dr. Westby began her career in New York where she developed her renowned Play Scale. She has written and implemented projects to support personnel preparation, clinical service, and research, including Project PLAY (Play and Language Attunement in Young Children), that trained caregivers to increase the development of play, theory of mind, and language. And she has consulted with the New Mexico Preschool for the Deaf, which employs a play-based curriculum.

Dr. Westby has been a visiting professor at Flinders University in South Australia where she worked on a language/literacy curriculum, and at Brigham Young University where she consulted on SEEL, a systematic and engaging emergent literacy program that employs playful practice.

Dr. Westby has published and presented nationally and internationally on play, language-literacy relationships, narrative/expository development and facilitation, theory of mind, assessment and facilitation of written language, metacognition/executive function, and issues in assessment and intervention with culturally/linguistically diverse populations.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Carol Westby is a consultant for Bilingual Multicultural Services. Dr. Westby receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She is the author of numerous chapters and articles; and is published by various publishers including Jones & Bartlett and Pearson.

Non-financial: Carol Westby is the developer of the Westby Play Scale. Dr. Westby is a fellow of the American-Speech-LanguageHearing Association.